2027 Best Construction Trades Schools in Illinois
Construction Trades degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best construction trades schools.
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Best Schools for Construction Trades in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall construction trades education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Construction Trades
No school ranked higher than City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College this year for construction trades. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public institution. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College awarded about 622 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Students looking for a strong construction trades program will find one at Kaskaskia College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 60 construction trades degrees were awarded at Kaskaskia College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $45,658 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full construction trades details for Kaskaskia College
Mchenry County College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #3 spot this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. About 13 construction trades degrees were awarded at Mchenry County College in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Mchenry County College earn around $24,177 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at Mchenry County College
Illinois Valley Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in construction trades, ranking #4. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 38 construction trades degrees were awarded at Illinois Valley Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. Typical student debt for the program is $8,099.
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A rank of #5 makes Rock Valley College one of the top schools for construction trades. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Rock Valley College awarded about 34 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,236.
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Heartland Community College placed #6 among the best construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 12 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Heartland Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Heartland Community College earn around $48,710 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,266 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Heartland Community College
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #7 position for construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. There were roughly 138 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Southwestern Illinois College
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College landed the #8 spot for construction trades this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 148 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $107,572. Students borrow a median of $6,974 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #9 spot for construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 34 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $43,834 in the first couple years of their career. Lincoln Land Community College graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans.
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Lake Land College landed the #10 spot for construction trades this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Mattoon. Lake Land College awarded about 596 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Lake Land College earn around $12,838 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at Lake Land College
Triton College came in at #11 for construction trades this year. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Triton College awarded about 163 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,994 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at Triton College
Southeastern Illinois College earned the #12 position for construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Harrisburg, Southeastern Illinois College is a mid-sized public institution. Southeastern Illinois College awarded about 14 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full construction trades program report for Southeastern Illinois College
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #13 for construction trades this year. Set in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public institution. There were roughly 21 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earn around $38,331 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans.
Get the full construction trades details for Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Prairie State College came in at #14 for construction trades this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. There were roughly 21 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Prairie State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $37,500 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at Prairie State College
Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park earned the #15 position for construction trades this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Melrose Park. About 302 construction trades degrees were awarded at Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park generally make around $38,050. Students borrow a median of $16,695 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College placed #16 among the best construction trades schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Rockford. There were roughly 13 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn around $31,807 in the first couple years of their career. Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College graduates carry a median of $21,356 in student loans.
Read more about the construction trades program at Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College
Hvac Technical Institute earned the #17 position for construction trades this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 47 construction trades degrees were awarded at Hvac Technical Institute in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of Hvac Technical Institute earn a median of $32,208 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,861.
Read more about the construction trades program at Hvac Technical Institute
More Construction Trades Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
